Noise reducing impeller vane

Abstract

The invention relates to an impeller vane with a novel folded surface designed to reduce noise and improve operational efficiency across various RPM settings. This impeller vane configuration optimizes pressure oscillation management, thereby minimizing noise while maintaining high performance in fluid handling devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impeller vane, comprising:
 two limbs intersecting at a hinge to form an interlimb angle less than 45 degrees;   wherein said limbs and hinge are extruded along a fold path to define a three-dimensional vane having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein one limb forms a top edge and the other limb forms a bottom edge of the impeller vane.   
     
     
         2 . The impeller vane of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said vanes are configured to be stacked one atop another to create a multi-layered impeller structure. 
     
     
         3 . The impeller vane of  claim 1 , wherein the limbs are tapered in height from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         4 . The impeller vane of  claim 1 , wherein the curvature of the limbs are configured in one or more of the following configurations:
 Angular Symmetrical;   Angular Asymmetrical;   Cuspate Symmetrical;   Cuspate/Angular Asymmetrical;   Rounded Symmetrical;   Rounded/Angular Asymmetrical;   Cuspate/Rounded Asymmetrical.   
     
     
         5 . An impeller comprising:
 a plurality of impeller vanes as recited in any one of claims  1 - 4 ;   wherein the impeller vanes are arranged around a central hub, and each impeller vane is affixed to the hub at its bottom edge; and   wherein the impeller is configured to rotate about an axis passing through the central hub to facilitate movement of a fluid.   
     
     
         6 . The impeller of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a top with an inlet that connects to the top edge of the impeller vanes, wherein the inlet provides support to the impeller vanes and facilitates the directed flow of fluid into the impeller vanes.